Swords & Soldiers (Wii) Review

WiiWare is a natural choice for smaller developers, but the real-time strategy genre? Perhaps not so much. It's particularly impressive, then, that a team of just ten people (recent graduates, no less) has been able to able to take the genre and create a downright excellent game - you've already skipped ahead to the score by now, right? - in spite of such constraints. The key to Swords & Soldier's quality is its reworking of genre conventions to better suit the Wii Remote interface and the quick-burst nature expected of most downloadable titles. Clearly an epic Command & Conquer-esque battlefield, coupled with extensive base building and unit organization, would not have been practical.

Ronimo Games' solutions to these potential issues are really quite ingenious. They begin with a 2D side-scrolling perspective that looks more like a platformer than a conventional RTS, but helps to keep things simple without resorting to excessive dumbing down. Two opposing forces each occupy one end of the battlefield, with the aim of defending their own base and storming their foe's. While certain structures can be built at set locations, there is no significant base-building to speak of. The result is relentless, fast-paced action. New units are constantly moving forward and cannot be controlled manually, limiting your role to that of an overseer who may assist using a variety of offensive and defensive spells.

Resource gathering, an imperative part of any RTS, is equally autonomous. The required worker units handle all the to-ing and fro-ing without intervention (though they do appreciate it if you keep enemies at a distance). Mana, the 'currency' needed to use spells, also regenerates on a regular basis. "So", you might well ask, "what's left for me to do?" For starters, you must decide how funds get allocated - do you want to build a slew of basic units, a few more powerful ones, or research brand new units and/or spells? Sending out the right units for the job is crucial for success, but you'll need to take into account unit speed and the distance that will have to be travelled to reach your opponents.

In addition to creating a steady flow of new units, you'll need to keep an eye on your existing allies and lend assistance where necessary. A healing spell here, or a poison bomb there can make all the difference in halting an enemy onslaught. If regular spells aren't enough, though, each of the game's three factions (Viking, Chinese, Aztec) eventually gain access to ridiculous, battlefield-spanning spells that require specific button input to utilize fully. The Boulder spell, for example, tramples everything in its path - including your own units! Without forcing it to jump at opportune moments, it could well destroy every unit on the field in a matter of moments. With options like these, monotony really isn't a problem.

Issuing all of the necessary instructions is handled flawlessly using the Wii Remote. Navigating the field is a simple as pointing the Remote at the side of the screen, or holding the B trigger and doing the same for even quicker scrolling. Ordering new units and selecting spells is accomplished via a series of unobtrusive (but easily distinguishable) icons along the top of the screen. Actually using spells on individual units, even when they're surrounded by a tight cluster of allies and foes, is almost always a breeze thanks to the game's distinctive art style and large sprites. Truly, Swords & Soldiers is a game that was made for the Wii; even a mouse would be hard-pressed to improve on the fluidity offered here.